Charisma Media Founder Steve Strang discusses his appreciation for the national leadership of Assemblies of God General Superintendent George O. Wood and the local leadership of Orlando, Fla., pastor Carl Stephens. read more

Behind the scenes of the Trayvon Martin case—and the inspiring account of reconciliation no one’s telling

Trayvon Martin was killed 2.3 miles from my office in a newer part of Sanford, Fla. The exact street where he was shot is less than a mile from a similar gated townhouse community where my younger son lives.

So to me, this is extremely personal. As we put together this special issue, I’ve been in a whirlwind of meetings and diplomacy unlike anything I’ve ever experienced during my journalism career, stretching back to high school. And as with most stories, there is a behind-the-scenes account that’s just as interesting. This is my attempt to tell that personal side of the story, even as Charisma deals with the spiritual, cultural and political effects of this situation.

I’ve known for years Sanford was a racially divided community, and I’ve worked in my own way to bring healing and reconciliation—including getting to know black pastors, attending their churches and serving on the board of a small ministry to the homeless in the center of this predominantly black area. I’ve helped to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for many of these ministries. I’ve even been involved in Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrations and lobbied to get a street named after the slain civil rights leader. read more

The gay rights movement is trying to have President Obama's election be a referendum on this issue. And if Obama is re-elected there's no stopping the extreme social agenda he apparently has. read more